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TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY. LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND.

Part 5

By Ashleigh Cropper

December 28^th, 2016

swiss friends and lake geneiva.

When we extended our trip a bit, we really wanted to make some time to see our Boulder friends that moved to Switzerland a few years ago. It was so fun to see them in their element in Switzerland! We seriously love these guys and love their cute son, Sammy! He is our bff for sure! The Conkey's moved to a small little village called Lonay, up in the hills from Morges, a town on Lake Geneva.

I had visited Switzerland when I lived in Spain and loved it from the second I had arrived. Although we learned so much about the day-to-day regimen of living in Switzerland, all the town rules, laws and crazy taxes...it's hard not to also be a little grateful for it because it has preserved so much beauty this little country holds.

At this point in our trip we were pretty tired from traveling. I booked us first class seats on the train (come on, 10 euro more for a better seat assignment and a meal! I'll take it!) We trained from Paris to Lausanne (4 hours total) and then hopped on another little trail to the cute town of Morges.

We loved being shown this area by experts and enjoying the every day life of the Swiss. It is something we may never get to do again, so we took in the typical daily events of life around there, with some touristy stops in between! The Conkey's were incredible and such thoughtful hosts. We had amazing Swiss meals (give me all the melted cheese!), chocolates that can't be beat, fun nights of catching up and chatting, and just genuinely enjoying our time with them.

TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY. LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND.

Highlights of Switzerland.

1) Honestly, biggest highlight was just spending evenings with our friends over real Swiss meals! I especially loved the meal where you take huge chunks of cheese, melt it in this special grill thing (made and used ONLY for this exact meal) and then pour the cheese over potatoes, meat, veggies!

2) La Caille tour was really awesome! To see where the original chocolate bars were produced was so fun! Plus, ending the tour in a huge chocolate tasting room did not disappoint (sugar high follows right after the tour!)

3) We loved seeing the area around where our friends live. Waking up to morning views of Mont Blanc, come on...is this real life?! This little town nested in the hills is so incredible. The castle image below is someone's private home in the town. The view was out of this world and these are the things I love most about visiting people who live their. We would of never seen something like this if it was just Ian and I.

4) Gruyere! If you know me, you know how much I love cheese (or if you have read through the blog this far)! The town is up on a hilltop and is surrounded by medieval walls. There are no cars allowed in the town center (other than that vintage VW). It is your quintessential Swiss town that was delightful and gorgeous!

5) Wandering around Lake Geneva and the paths into the forest. Enjoying a laid-back day, eating lunch in the park and just spending some downtime along the lake.

6) Lausanne and its many hills! Wow, that town is a workout 24/7! The train we took into the city was at a solid 40 degree angle, I swear! It was insane getting on and off a platform that is so slanted. The calves on those people must be out of this world! We visited the cathedral where Emily performs with her choir and it was stunning up on one of the many hilltops looking over the city.

7) The little village of Lonay is seriously so cute! It is a photographer's dream full of Swiss homes, overlooking Lake Geneva, vineyards lining the walkways, mossy paths, old doorways into cottages, sheep roaming!

8) Can't forget Chateau de Chillon! I have exactly zero professional images from the castle. I just loved watching Ian go through a castle for the first time! Him and Sammy had quite a blast! Plus a castle on the waters of Geneva is breathtaking!

Lonay, Switzerland

Below are images from our friends' village of Lonay! I seriously loved just wandering around. Outside their home is a cemetery under a huge tree! Their garden full of pumpkins, flowers, berries, kiwis (!!!), and veggies. Little Sebastian (Parks n' Rec reference) hanging out on the hillside with friends. Mossy roads to their home. Chickens and sheep wandering below their garden. Vines climbing all along the walls. It is a treasure to have spent time here off the touristy typical Switzerland path.